TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:
The Indonesian Council of Clerics have been given the green light to
distribute halal certification guidelines for importers located outside
Indonesia, to tackle the absence of halal certification agency, the
Coordinating Ministry for the Economy said on Thursday. However the
ministry announced that detailed explanations on the new precedure will
be issued early next week.

Deputy for Industry and Trade of the Ministry Edy Putra Irawady said
the distribution of guidelines by the clerics’ council were approved
during the coordination meeting with the Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics
Evaluation Body at the clerics’ council, to address the removal of
overseas offices of halal certification body.

Edy said the absence of certification body has made it difficult for
importers from abroad to get recommendations, however sending halal
products experts abroad to inspect import goods will involve a
considerable amount of budget.

Edy said despite the voluntary nature of the measure for importers from
existing trading partner countries, the authority will still require
certification issued by third party for goods coming from non partner
countries, or will send halal products expert to non trading partner
countries to inspect import goods.